“I’m a Black Man and I’m Doing this Job Very Well”: How African American Professional Men Negotiate the Impact of Racism on Their Career Development

Abstract

This is a critical qualitative study grounded in the tripartite frame of Black masculinity, critical race theory, and career development theory. The study examines the impact of racism on the career development of African American professional men in corporate America. Fourteen African American men who hold mid-management or higher positions in their respective companies were interviewed for this study. Participants’ responses were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Findings reveal that African American professional men experience repressive structures due to gendered racism, which impacts their careers in ways that are different from their White male counterparts and African American professional women. The study also identifies facilitative structures African American men employ to negotiate the impact of racism on their career development. Four conclusions are discussed, and implications for practice and future research are offered.